cognition
- 01 C1 Advanced
the way your brain works to understand things, remember information, and solve problems.
the mental process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and the senses. Uncountable in this general psychological sense.
Simple“Scientists are studying how sleep affects cognition and memory in older adults.”
In context“The research paper explores the relationship between social interaction and the development of higher-order cognition in early childhood.”
UsageOften used in scientific or psychological contexts to describe the mechanics of the mind.
Synonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
a single thought or a specific result of thinking.
a specific product of the cognitive process, such as a thought, belief, or perception. Countable in this specific application.
Simple“The patient recorded every negative cognition they had during the day.”
In context“Cognitive behavioural therapy aims to identify and challenge distorted cognitions that lead to emotional distress.”
UsageCommonly used in clinical psychology and philosophy when referring to individual units of thought.
Synonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
the state of knowing or being aware of something.
the state of having knowledge or awareness of a fact or situation.
Simple“The judge had full cognition of the facts before making the final decision.”
In context“The defendant claimed to have no prior cognition of the illegal activities occurring within the firm.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is largely archaic or restricted to formal legal contexts; 'awareness' or 'knowledge' is preferred in modern speech.
Usage human cognition
“Cannabis affects behaviour, cognition and psychomotor performance in a dose-dependent way, and complex tasks such as flying are particularly sensitive.”
“The more scientists study the brain, the clearer it becomes that cognition is astonishingly energy intensive.”
From Middle English cognicion, cognicioun from Latin cognitiō (“knowledge, perception, a judicial examination, trial”), from cognitus, past participle of cognoscere (“to know”), from co- (“together”) + *gnoscere, older form of noscere (“to know”); see know, and compare cognize, cognizance, cognizor, cognosce, connoisseur.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.